Planting corn and soybeans has seen significant changes since my grandfathers were dropping seed into the ground.
The older equipment was pulled a lot slower than today, some even by horses. My grandfathers would plant at 2 to 3 mph with a 2, 4, or 6 row planter. Today’s planters are able to do a precise job at 5 mph and some even can reach speeds of 12 mph and still place the seed at the desired depth and population.
Most planters today are 12, 16, or 24 row planters. Mine is a 24-row planter (see photo below). Some can be as big as 36 or 48 rows! The larger the planter, the more seed that gets planted in a day (on average 200 acres per day).
The row spacing has also changed since the days of horse-drawn planters. The width of the rows back then were 38 inches. Today, 30-inch rows are the most common. Some rows are tighter at 20 inches wide.
In DeKalb County, most farmers will be planting a corn seed population of between 32,000 and 38,000 seeds per acre. Soybeans will be planted between 130,000 to 160,000 seeds per acre. On our farm we strive to be somewhere in the middle around 35,000 corn seeds per acre and 150,000 soybean seeds.
My grandfathers planted around 20,000 corn seeds per acre and they would put soybeans in around 225,000 seeds per acre. My father’s generation pushed the corn populations higher to 35,000 seeds per acre. Then they actually cut back on the soybean population to 150,000 seeds per acre. This adjustment to populations was due to improved genetics, traits, and seed treatments. By doing this, farmers created higher yields at harvest.
Planter technology has changed too. Today we have the capability to change seed populations as we are going through the field based on soil types, fertility or just testing populations. The computer in the tractor cab pulling the planter enables farmers to make a “prescription” prior to planting. So, the planter will drop more or less seed as you are planting the field. Some farms can have seven or eight different seed populations throughout the field.
Another technology I find very interesting is multi-seed planters. Soon farmers will be able to put two or three different varieties in different compartments on the planter and plant a hybrid that may be good for sandy soils and automatically switch the hybrid for the dark, black soils. Placing the right seed on every acre is very important.
Although many things have changed between generations, one thing that has stayed constant is Mother Nature. She will let us know when conditions are right for planting.
Generations before me have said, “Plant in the dust, the bins will bust” and I’m a firm believer in that quote.
KEVIN FAIVRE IS A 5TH GENERATION FARMER AND RAISES PIGS, CORN AND SOYBEANS. KEVIN AND HIS WIFE LIZ AND CHILDREN ALEX AND JOE RESIDE ON THEIR FARM IN RURAL MALTA.